Archive for March, 2007

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A movie I very much enjoy watching is Moulin Rouge starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. It is lively, fast moving, entertaining with uplifting and inspirational music.

Ewan McGregor plays the part of Christian, a penniless starving writer who desires to write about love. There is just one problem; he’s never been in love. He moves to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and begins to write his great love story, tapping out the words on an old typewriter while living alone in the classical writer’s garret.

He meets Satine, played by Nicole Kidman and instantly falls in love, not knowing she is a courtesan. Of course there are many complications but I won’t bore you here with them; see the movie or read an outline of the plot here. (It doesn’t give the ending).

Not only is it an entertaining movie but it also gives some insights into the writing process. It is hard, lonely and often difficult to become established as a writer. Set in an era when sponsorship of writers was the norm it highlights the struggles of a young, enthusiastic but inexperienced author.

I was first drawn to the movie Iris because it starred Judi Dench in the lead role. She plays the role of the author Iris Murdoch. I am a great admirer of the acting of Judi Dench. She plays each character with a genuine understanding of the role. She makes acting look so easy, so natural and always so endearing.

In this role she is superb, playing the aging writer Iris Murdoch. Kate Winslet does a credible performance as the young Iris. As the writer ages she steadily succumbs to debilitating Alzheimer’s. She brings a poignant portrayal of the struggles with words and ideas, a land foreign to this intellectual giant of earlier years.

It is compelling viewing. Jim Broadbent also does an excellent job as the life-long soul mate and husband of Iris.

As yet I have yet to read any of Murdoch’s writing. I must make the effort soon.

Links:

• Iris Murdoch – a short biography of the author.
• Iris Murdoch – article in Wikipedia about the author; includes a bibliography of her works.

In the comments section tell me about other movies about writers that you have enjoyed. They can be either films about real authors, or feature characters playing the part of an author.